Target for switch-stands.



W. G. KIDD & J. B. STRONG.

TARGET FOR SWITCH STANDS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1911.

62 0 r P atented May 20,1913. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. KIDDAND JAMES BOOBMAN STRONG, OF HILLBURNINEW YORK, ASSIGN- ORS TO STANDARD'EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF HILLBUBN, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, 'WILLIAM G. KIDD and JAMES BOORMAN STRONG, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Hillburn,

county of Rockland, and Stateof New York,

This invention relates particularly to targets used in connection with switch stands to indicate the position of a switch rail.-

Heretofore it has been customary to fix the targets to the operating spindle of the new and novel features of construct-ion and,

switch stand by clips, bolts or rivets. .A common method of attaching the target was to bolt the target members directly to the spindle. Another method was to secure the target members to the spindle by means of clips which were usually provided with slot-s adapted to engage with the edges of the target members and which were secured to the spindle in any suitable manner, as by abolt or bolts. Another methodwas to rivet or bolt the target members directly to clips, which clips were then fitted to the spindle. By these several methods of attachment a plurality of parts. were required and the bolts or rivets-were liable to work loose or rust and break, thus permitting the target members to become loose and rattle or become entirely disengaged from the spindle.

The object of this'invention is to provide a target in which the use of bolts and nuts and similar detachable securing means may be avoided. A further object of the invention is to provide means for securing the target directly to the spindle of the switch stand so that the target members will interlock therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construct-ion and arrangement of arts whereby the target will be supported 1n its. desired position upon the spindle.

The various other objects of-the invention willbe more fullyset forth in the following description of one .form of construction embodying the invention, which consists in the combinations of. parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawin -Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank which has been stamped preparatory to being bent to form Specificationof Letters Patent. Application filed Kay 8, 12 311. Serial No. 625,860. 7 i

' provided TARGET FOR SWITCH-STANDS.

Patented May 20 1913.

the target members. Fig. 2 is a side elevat1on of the target showing the same assembled and viewed from one position of the signals. Fig, 3 shows the target members assembled and viewed from their other position. Fig. 4 is a plan view .of the target members assembled to engage a square spindle. Fig. 5 is a view of the target as applied to the square spindle of a'switch stand shown conventionally. Fig. dis a detail ,view showing assembled target members which have been bent to -engage with a round spindle. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the target members applied to a round spindle.

The target'members may, if desired, be formed from a single blank of metal a and may be of any desired shape, the particular blank shown in the drawings being approximately oblong in shape and having curved ends, so that one face of the target when assembled will be circular. The blank may be divided by a V-shaped cut I), thus forming the two target members a and 0 respectively.

Each target member is provided with one or more slots (1 and with strips. or tongues of metal 6 so arranged that ,thetongues or strips of metalinone member will register with the slots in the other member. Each member is bent preferably on a line passing through the slots so that its edges will lie in approximately perpendicular planes. The target members are then interlocked with each other by inserting the tongues'or strips on the one member in the corresponding slots in the other member, thus forming a central passage or socketg'.

The spindle h of theswitch stand preferably has its upper portion ircduced in size so as to provide a shoulder j at a suitable distance from its top. This reduced portion of the spindle engages in the socket formed by the assembled target members which preferably rest upon and are sup ported by the shoulder j. Instead of resting directly upon the shoulder, however, the target members may seat upon a washer I..- placed on the spindle and supported by the shoulder 7'. If desired. the washer may be with a plurality of slots 70' which engage with the bottom edges of the target members and hold the same against rotation wi h respect to the spindle. It is obvious,

of course, that instead of resting directly uponthe shoulder the washer k may be secured to the spindle in any desired manner. A lamp tip Z is preferably secured to the top of the spindle and not only provides a bearing for a lamp in the usual manner, but also serves the purpose of preventing the target member from being removed 'from. the spindle maliciously.

By means of this construction the target members are interlocked with the switch spindle and with each other in such a way that it is absolutely impossible for the same to become accidentally displaced. No bolts or similar detachable securing means are necessary, and not only are such parts dis pensed with at a saving in the cost of manufacture, but the dangers attendant upon the use of any securin devices which work loose are eliminated. Iurthermore, the target members are solid throughout, there bemg no bolt holes to permit moisturg to come in contact with the metal where it is impossible to protect the same by paint with the resultant oxidation and ultimate destruction ofthe target-members. The cost of upkeep is also materially reduced, as the enameling or painting u onthe target members remains fresh an in good condition much longer than when bolts are used, because the wear on the bolts inevitably breaks the enamel or paint and permits rust to form and drain upon the surface of the target members.

We claim as our invention 1. In a switch stand target, a plurality of sections of signaling members united in pairs each pair consisting of two angularly isposed integrally formed sections, said pairs being formed with openings at the junction of the sections positloned to permiteach opening in each pair to receive a correspondingly positioned portion of another pair, the engagement of the said openings with the said corresponding portions forming a socket, and a spindle disposed in said socket cotiperating with the socket for holding the pans together.

2. In a switch stand target, a plurality of sections of signaling members, united in pairs each pair consisting of two angularly disposed integrally formed sections, said pairs being formed with openings at the unction of the sections positioned to permit each 0 ning in each pair to receive a correspondingly positioned portion of another pair, the engagement of the said open ings with the said corresponding portions forming a socket, a spindle disposed in said socket for locking the pairs together, and means for holding the signaling members against independent rotation relative to the spindle.

3. In a switch stand target, a plurali t of sections of signaling members united in b .to the first member,

means on said' spindle for holding said sigformed with openings at the the sections posltioned .to peri naling members against downward displacement with respect to the spindle.

4. In a switch stand target, a plurality of sections of signaling members united in pairs each pair consisting of two angularly disposed integrally formed sections, said pairs being formed with openings at the junction of the sections positioned to permit each opening in each pair to receive a correspondingly positioned portion of another pair, the engagement ofthe said openings with tllQ Sfild. corresponding portlons forming a socket, a s indle disposed in said socket for locking t e' pairs together, and means on the spindle for hold' the sig: naling members against .downwa i' g displacement and against rotation with respect to the spindle. I

5. In a switch stand target, a plurality of united in of the respective pairs interlocking, a spindle, and a reduced portion atthe to of said spindle disposed in said interloc ing necks.

6. In a switch stand target, a plurality of sections of signaling members united in pairs each pair consisting of two angularly disposed integrally formed sections, said pairs being formed with openings at the junction of the sections positioned to permit each opening in each pair to receive a correspondingly positioned portion of another pair, the engagement of the said openings with the sald corresponding portions forming a socket, a spindle disposed in said socket cooperating with the socket for holding the pairs together, said spindle having an enlarged part.below the socket for supporting the signaling members, and means secured to the spindle to prevent upward displacement of said signaling members.

7. A target. for switch stands comprising a section of a signal member, a section of a second signal member disposed at an angle spaced bent necks integrally formed with the sections for uniting them, a second section of the first signal member oppositely disposed to the first section of said member, a second section of the second signal member oppositely disposed to the first section of said member, spaced entnecks integrally formed with the sec- 0nd sections of the two signal members for uniting them, said necks interlocking with the necks of the first sections.

8. In a switch stand target the combination with ill-spindle, of a plurality of target members each provided with alternate necks and slots and bent on aline passing throu h said necks and slots so that ItS' edges will ie in approximately gzrpendicular planes, the necks on one mem r bein adaptedto engage in the slots in the 0 er member and.

interlocking therewith. to form a socket seating' over said spindle and means for suF- porting-the target members on the s in e. I

This specification si ed and wi nessed 15 this 3d day of May, A. 1911.

WILLIAM G. KI'DD. JAMES BOORMAN STRONG.

Witnesses:

JEAN S. MACGREGOR, Fm W. SNOW. 

